‘My son is trans. So what?’ says Ghana commentator KKD

As Ghana legislators push anti-LGBTQ agenda, KKD supports his family’s trans activist.

 

In the midst of Ghana’s continuing controversies over plans to inflict harsh punishments on its LGBTQ citizens, a prominent Ghanaian broadcaster and presidential envoy has announced his support for his adult child, a transgender activist.

Kwasi Kyei Darkwah (known as KKD) is a familiar face on Ghanaian television, often providing commentary on news shows.  He is also Ghana’s Presidential Special Envoy to the Caribbean.

KKD recently publicly reaffirmed his support for his child, Darkwah Kwaku Kyei-Darkwah, a non-binary multidisciplinary artist, fashion stylist and LGBTQ+ rights advocate.

The LGBTQ+ advocacy group Rightify Ghana reported:

Speaking about public discussions and rumours surrounding their gender identity, KKD acknowledged that his child is transgender and non-binary, and made clear that their identity does not trouble him.

“My son is trans. So what? He is a grown man. It doesn’t bother me,” KKD said in an interview with Bola Ray on Starr FM’s Starr Chat programme on Aug. 8, 2026.

KKD explained that parents are more like shepherds than engineers, suggesting that parents can guide and support their children but cannot determine who they ultimately become.

He also urged the public to refrain from insulting or attacking his child over their identity, saying that people should instead offer prayers and respect their family.

KKD further emphasized that he concentrates on the things within his control and leaves matters beyond his control to God, while maintaining that his children continue to have his support.

Darkwah, who uses they/them pronouns, is known for their work as a multidisciplinary artist, fashion stylist and LGBTQ+ advocate. KKD’s latest comments represent another public expression of his acceptance of his child and their gender identity, despite the intense public scrutiny that often surrounds LGBTQ+ issues in Ghana.

His remarks have drawn attention because they come at a time when transgender and non-binary people continue to face significant stigma, discrimination and public hostility in Ghana.

By publicly acknowledging Darkwah’s identity and rejecting criticism of his parenting, KKD has once again signalled that his relationship with his child is not defined by their gender identity.

 

GhanaWeb reported in 2023 about a trans rights protest in London where Darkwah spoke:

“I just want to say to everybody new that is walking by, whether you are in support or pathetic, we are not only walking so that we can stick it to everyone. We are walking because we know we are fine. We are walking because we know we are divine. We are walking because we have rights. We are walking because we know that we are building, and we are not going to stop,” he shouted into a handheld microphone.

He also emphasized that the trans fight will continue unabated.

“What you are seeing today is going to continue happening. We will continue walking, we will continue marching, we will continue fighting. We will be on your airwaves, we will be on your TV screens. We are not going anywhere,” he emphasized in a viral video from the march.

Darkwah Kyei-Darkwah came out as gay in November 2017 in a publication by the digital magazine intomore.com.

Noting the difficulty in coming out as gay, the son of the celebrated Ghanaian broadcaster said he had gone past that stage and felt no need to conform to anyone’s standards in terms of his sexuality.

“The moment I realized I was gay happened in primary school. Someone called me gay as an insult, and I responded with ‘so what?’ I was totally fine with it, but others weren’t, and that was when the discomfort and shame with my sexuality started,” he told intomore.com.

He was featured on the website alongside other gay models with African backgrounds, discussing the issues they face as queer people of color.

“Living under my parents’ roof, I was constantly hiding. I’d get home from school and be incredibly quiet, helpful, and obedient. I stayed in my room most of the time. I was playing the role of the ‘ideal son’ so I could just skate by unnoticed. It wasn’t until I was no longer living at home that I started to realize I wasn’t anyone or anything I’d known so far in my life,” he said.

“I went through a lot of ups and downs, trying out new ways of dressing, trying out new friendship groups, and reinventing myself over and over again. I realized I did this because I was still trying to fit in a box – the stylish black guy, the cool and macho black guy, the femme, flamboyant, and fun black guy. None worked because there is a lot more to me (and any person, for that matter) than a stereotype. I am now very comfortable with my sexuality because I don’t feel I need to conform to any one image,” he added.

His father, after his son had come out, issued a message of support via Facebook.

In his long statement of support, which was later deleted from his page, KKD congratulated his son for coming out and described him as brave and courageous.